Keeper lock for a slide fastener

ABSTRACT

A concentric three-part, key-operated keeper lock for a slide fastener and including an outer barrel, an intermediate rotatable tubular handle disposed within the barrel and having a radial keeper flange, and an inner tumbler-type cylinder mounted in the tubular handle and having a locking bolt which releasably maintains the barrel and handle in telescoped relation. In the locked condition of the cylinder, the keeper flange closely overlies the pull tab of the slide fastener and prevents access thereto. In the unlocked condition of the cylinder, the keeper flange springs upwards under the influence of a helical compression spring and assumes a condition where it may be rotated in either direction through an angle of 360* so that no portion thereof interferes with manual access to the pull tab of the slide fastener.

United States Patent [191 Kerr [ Jan. 15, 1974 [52] [1.8. CI. 70/68 [5 1] Int. Cl E05b 67/38 [58] Field of Search 70/68, 208, 19, 32-34,

70/67-69; 24/205.l1 R, 205.11 L

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1971 Kerr 70/68 5/l972 Wellekens 70/360 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Att0mey-Norman H. Gerlach [5 7 ABSTRACT A concentric three-part, key-operated keeper lock for a slide fastener and including an outer barrel, an intermediate rotatable tubular handle disposed within the barrel and having a radial keeper flange, and an inner tumbler-type cylinder mounted in the tubular handle and having a locking bolt which releasably maintains the barrel and handle in telescoped relation. In the locked condition of the cylinder, the keeper flange closely overlies the pull tab of the slide fastener and prevents access thereto. In the unlocked condition of the cylinder, the keeper flange springs upwards under the influence of a helical compression spring and assumes a condition where it may be rotated in either direction through an angle of 360 so that no portion thereof interferes with manual access to the pull tab of the slide fastener.

6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 1 KEEPER LOCK FOR A SLIDE FASTENER The present invention relates generally to a keeper lock for a slide fastener and has particular reference to a lock of the type which is illustrated and described in US. Pat. No. 3,580,016, granted on May 25, 1971 and entitled KEEPER LOCK FOR A SLIDE FASTENER, the principal object of the present invention being to provide a keeper lock which is an improvement over that of such patent.

Briefly, the keeper lock of the above-mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,580,016 is designed for use in connection with the slide fastener of a flexible cloth money bag and consists of three principal concentric parts including an outer barrel, anintermediate rotatable tubular handle disposed within the barrel and having a radial keeper flange at its upper end, and an inner tumbler-type cylinder having a locking bolt which releasably maintains the barrel and handle in telescoped relation. The lock barrel embodies an integral anvil portion which underlies the pull tab of the slide fastener so that this tab is sandwiched in between the keeper flange and the anvil where it is totally inaccessible for manipulation purposes. When the cylinder is unlocked, the keeper flange springs upwards to a raised position or level where it clears the keeper flange, after which it may be rotated throughout a limited angle of 90 in one direction only where it assumes a lateral partially out-of-theway position wherein the pull tab of the slide fastener is exposed sufficiently that it may be grasped by the fingers of the user, raised in the usual manner, and then slide along the fasteners locking fingers so as to open the money bag. It has been found that, in connection with this patented lock, the unlocked 90 position of the aforementioned keeper flange is not always adequate to render full and facile access to the pull tab.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitationthat is attendant upon the construction and use of the aforementioned patented keeper lock and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a novel keeper lock which, although patterned along the same general lines as the patented keeper lock, makes provision for free unobstructed manual rotation of the handle, together with its integral keeper flange, in either direction throughout an angle of 360 when the handle is in its raised position. This 360 movement of the handle with its keeper flange constitutes one of the principal features of the keeper lock constituting the present invention.

A further point of difference between the patented keeper lock and the present lock resides in the manner in which the two inner concentric parts, namely, the intermediate tubular handle and the inner tumbler-type cylinder, are captured within the confines of the outermost tubular barrel, the manner in which this is done resulting in a lock which is easier to assemble and dismantle when required.

Certain other minor differences between the present keeper lock and the patented lock, resulting in the use of. fewer parts, constitute additional advantageous features of the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a keeper lock which is generally of new and improved construction and is characterized by simplicity of design, ease of manipulation, and low cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a keeper lock embodying the present invention, the lock being shown in its unlocked condition with the keeper flange of the rotatable tubular handle swung to an oubof-the-way position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the keeper lock in its locked condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a money bag with a slide fastener, showing the keeper lock of the present invention operatively applied thereto and in its locked condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of e the particular structure which is shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the keeper flange of the handle in an out-of-the-way position so as to expose the pull tab of the slide fastener for manipulating purposes;

FIG. 6 (see sheet two) is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the structure which is shown in FIG. 4, the keeper lock being shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showing the lock cylinder turned to an intermediate position;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the outer tubular barrel of the present keeper lock;

FIG. 9 is bottom perspective view of the barrel of FIG. 8; t a

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure which is shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1l-ll of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, the improved keeper lock 10 of the present invention is illustrated for exemplary purposes as being applied to a flexible money bag 11 of the type which is generally used by a messenger when transporting the days receipts of a business to a bank. The bag 11 is in the form of an envelope-like container consisting of a single generally rectangular sheet which is formed of canvas or other strong material and is folded upon itself and stitched in the usual manner of construction of such a bag in order to provide a two-sided container having a folded side edge 12, a fully stitched bottom edge 14 and a partially stitched side edge 16. The upper edge 18 and the upper portion of the side edge 16 of the money bag ll remain unstitched in order to provide an entrance opening which is adapted to be closed by a conventional slide fastener 20. The adjacent edges 16 and 18 merge with each other on a rounded bias as indicated at 22, the

slide fastener arching around such rounded edge portion, thus affording for the money bag 11 a wide entrance opening when the two sides of the bag are spread apart after the slide fastener has been manipulated into its open or released position.

The slide fastener 20 of the money bag 11 is of the so-called zipper type and includes a pair of cloth attachment strips 24 and 26 (see FIGS. 4 and each strip carrying the usual longitudinal series of locking fingers 28 (see FIGS. 5 and The locking fingers on the two strips 24 and 26 are designed for interlocking engagement with each other under the control of a slidable lacing element 30 (see FIG. 6). Such lacing element has an upstanding bail 32 to which there is pivotally attached a pull tab 34.

The construction of the slide fastener is such that as the lacing element is slid in one direction along the upper edge 18 of the money bag 11 as shown in FIG. 3, the locking fingers 28 on the attachment strips 24 and .26 are progressively brought together and caused to become interlocked so as to close the entrance opening of the bag. As the lacing element is slid in the opposite direction, the locking fingers on the two strips are progressively unlaced and separated as is well known in the art, thus affording access to the interior of the bag.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, inclusive, the slide fastener 20 terminates a slight distance inwardly of the folded side edge 12 of the money bag 11, thus leaving a void at the upper left-hand corner of the bag 11, the void serving to receive therein the keeper lock 10 of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings, briefly, the keeper lock 10 involves in its general organization three principal and concentric parts, namely, an outer open-ended lock barrel 40, an intermediate rotatable tubular handle 42, and an inner key-operated tumbler-type lock cylinder 44by means of which relative turning movement between the barrel and the handle 42 may be prevented. The barrel 40 is shown in detail in- FIGS. 8 and 9 and is in the form of a generally tubular die casting. It embodies a tubular shank portion 50-(see FIGS. 8 and 9) which has flat sides 51, fits within the aforementioned void at the upper left-hand corner of the money bag 11 as shown in FIG. 3, and is anchored in the void by means of a horizontal rivet 52. The latter passes through the folded side edge 12 of the bag and also through a downward extension 54 on the shank portion of the barrel 40. An outwardly extending rim flange 55 of generally rectangular outline is formed as an integral part of the upper end of the shank portion 50 of the barrel 40 and it overlies the folded side edge of the money bag 11. The barrel 40 further includes or embodies a radially extending anvil portion 56 (see FIG. 6) which fits between the two sides of the bag 11 and is adapted to underlie the pull tab 34 of the slide fastener 20 when the latter is in its fully closed condition. A second horizontal rivet 58 passes through both sides of the bag and through a transverse bore 60 in the anvil portion 56 of the barrel 40, such second rivet, in combination with the first-mentioned rivet 52, serving to anchor the keeper lock 10 securely within the aforementioned void.

' The intermediate rotatable tubular handle 42 is in the form of a relatively deep cup-shaped die casting (see FIG. 6) and is telescopically received within the barrel 40. It is formed with a radially extending keeper flange 62 which overhangs the rim flange 55 of the barrel and is adapted to overlie the radially extending anvil portion 56 of the barrel 40 and to confine the pull tab 34 therebetween when the slide fastener 20 is in its fully closed position. The handle 42 is formed at its upper end with a generally rectangular rim flange 64 of which the keeper flange 62 constitutes a radial extension, this rim flange directly overlying the rim flange 55 on the upper end of the barrel 40 at all times.

The intermediate handle 42 of the keeper lock 10 is capable of both rotational and axial movement with respect to the outer lock barrel 40 within which it is telescopically disposed. The handle is of the so-called pop-up type insofar as it is spring-biased upwardly so that when it is released from the lower fully telescoped position in which it is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, it will automatically assume the raised or popped out position in which it is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The aforementioned fully telescoped position of the handle represents its locked position wherein the two rim flanges 64 and 55 assume positions of substantial contiguity while the keeper flange 62 closely overlies the anvil portion 56 with the pull tab having its proximate end extending between the keeper flange and said anvil portion so that it cannot be lifted or otherwise manipulated for slide fastener operation.

In the popped out position of the handle as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the keeper flange 62 continues to overlie the anvil portion 56 but the former is raised above the level of the pull tab 34 a sufficient distance that it is completely free of the latter to the end that the handle 42 may be manually rotated in either direction to position the keeper flange in any one of an infinite number of angular positions with respect to the radial axis of the anvil portion 56 as variously shown in dotted and broken lines in FIG. 5.

In order to prevent damage to the tumbler mechanism of the inner cylinder 44 if an attempt is made manually to swing the keeper flange 62 of the handle 42 sidewise, the generally cylindrical wall of the rotatable handle 42 is formed with a vertically extending external rib-like spline 66 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) immediately below the level of the rim flange 64, and this spline is adapted to be received within a spline recess 68 (see FIGS. 2 and 8) in the rim flange 55 of the lock barrel 40 when the parts are in the locked position as shown in FIG. 2. A helical compression spring 69 (see FIGS. 6 and 12) is effectively interposed between the barrel 40 and the handle 42 as will be described in detail presently and serves yieldingly to urge the handle toward its raised or popped out unlocked condition.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 8 and 12 of the drawings and considering the keeper lock 10 in greater detail, the shank portion 50 of the lock barrel 40 is provided with an axial bore 70 for telescopic sliding and rotational reception of the handle 42 as set forth previously. The lower end of this bore is provided with an inwardly extending rim flange 72 (see FIGS. 6 and 9) and this defines a central circular opening 74. The tubular handle 42 is formed with a depending solid cylindrical extension which constitutes, in effect, a cylindrical guide stem 76 of reduced diameter, such stem projecting slidably through the circular opening 74 in the rim flange 72. The lower end of the guide stem 76 is provided with an annular groove for reception of a split snap ring 78. The previously mentioned helical compression spring 69 surrounds the guide stem 76, has its lower end resting on the rim flange 72, and has its upper end bearing against the underneath side of an annular shoulder 82 on the handle 40, such shoulder being established by reason of the reduced guide stem 76. The spring 80 serves yieldingly to bias the handle 40 and its integrally formed radially extending keeper flange 62 upwardly toward the projected popped out position of the handle, while the extent of upward movement of the handle is limited by means of the aforementioned split snap ring 78. The latter defines an annular projection which engages the underneath side of the inwardly extending rim flange 72 when the handle is released for upward movement under the influence of the spring 69. The lower or locked position of the handle 42 is determined by means of a horizontally extending and slidable locking bolt 84 which is associated with the lock cylinder 44 and the nature and functioning of which will be set forth presently.

The lock cylinder 44 is telescopically and rotatably received in an axial socket 90 in the rotatable tubular handle 42 and it is maintained axially fixed in the socket by means of a narrow floating crescent-shaped strip 92 (see FIGS. 6 and 11), the outer portion of which normally seats in an internal arcuate groove 94 in the tubular wall of the handle 42 and is held in its seated position by a small compression spring 96, the latter being disposed for the most part in a radially extending socket 98 in the lock cylinder 44. The inner portion of the crescent-shaped strip 92 projects into an external arcuate groove 99 in the outer surface of the lock cylinder 44.

The lock cylinder 44 projects downwardly into the socket 90 in the handle 40 an appreciable distance and it terminates short of the bottom wall of the socket so as to define a bolt-receiving pocket 100 within which the horizontally extending bolt 84 is slidably disposed. The distal or outer end of the bolt projects into a slot 102 which is formed in the wall of the handle 42, the bolt being slidable diametrically within the pocket 100 between a retracted position wherein the bolt is disposed entirely within the cylindrical confines of the tubular handle 42 and a projected position wherein the distal end of the bolt passes completely through the slot 102 as shown in FIG. 6 and underlies a downwardly facing shoulder 104 which is provided on the barrel 40 by reason of a vertical recess 106 which is formed in the wall of the bore 70 and intersects the circular opening 74 as shown in FIG. 9. Since the distal end of the bolt 84, when the latter is in its projected position, underlies the shoulder 104, this shoulder constitutes a limit stop which determines the lower locked position of the rotatable tubular handle 42. The bolt 84 is yieldingly urged toward its projected position by means of a helical compression spring 108 in the pocket 100. It is adapted to be moved to its retracted position by means of an eccentric pin 110 which projects downwardly from the lower end face of the rotatable lock cylinder 44 and extends into a transverse notch 112 in the upper central portion of the bolt 84.

It is to be noted that the vertically disposed spline 66 is disposed immediately and centrally below the keeper flange 62 while the spline recess 68 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the radial anvil portion 56 of the lock barrel 40 so that when the spline and recess are coaxial, the keeper flange 62 directly overlies theanvil portion. When the barrel is in its retracted lower locked position within the bore 70, it is incapable of being rotated in either direction to the end that the tumbler mechanism of the lock cylinder 44 is protected from damage if an attempt is made manually to swing the keeper flange 62 of the handle 42 sidewise.

Except insofar as the key-operated tumbler-type cylinder 44 cooperates with the handle 42, this cylinder is conventional in its design and construction and is in the form of a cylindrical body having the usual longitudinally extending keyway 113 which is intersected by transverse tumbler slots 114 (see FIGS. l2, l3 and 14). The upper end of the rotatable lock cylinder 44 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 116' which seats within an annular socket 118 adjacent to the upper rim of the handle 42, while the cylinder body is rotatable in the bore within which it is axially fixed by means of the crescent-shaped strip 92 as previously described. A small radial bore 120 (see FIG. 11) in the wall of the handle 42 is provided for the purpose of retracting the crescent-shaped strip 92 against the action of the spring 96 when a thrust rod or the like is projected through such bore. Retraction of the crescentshaped strip in this manner causes the crescent-shaped strip to clear the internal groove 94 in the wall of the intermediate handle 42 to the end that the inner lock cylinder 44 may be withdrawn upwardly and axially from the bore 90 within which it is normally rotatably received.

The bore 90 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite, longitudinally extending, tumbler-receiving grooves 122 which cooperate with a longitudinal series of plate tumblers 124 in the usual manner of plate tumbler operation. Said plate tumblers are slidably mounted in the transverse slots 114 in the lock cylinder 44 are urged outwards into interlocked relation with the grooves 122 by compression springs 125 (see FIG. 14). They have central key-receiving slots and are designed for cooperation with a key 126 which embodies the usual bitted shank portion 128 and a wing portion 130, the shank portion being adapted for insertion through the central key-receiving slots in the plate tumblers and the wing portion being for key-gripping and turningpurposes.

As previously set forth, the keeper flange 62 of the lock barrel 40 and the anvil portion 56 of the handle 42 cooperate with each other to prevent upward swinging movement of the pull tab 34 and, thus, render the lacing element 30 incapable of being slid longitudinally along the slide fastener 20 as a whole. Accordingly, the outer or distal end of the anvil portion 56 of. the lock barrel 40 is formed with a generally U-shaped upstanding rim flange 132 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 8) which blocks opening movement of the lacing element 30 of the slide fastener assembly 20, while the overlying keeper flange 62 is provided at its distal end with a downturned rib 134, such rib normally bearing downwardly against the pull tab 34 as shown in FIG. 6, thus precluding upward swinging movement of the latter. With the pull tab thus maintained in its horizontal position, the usual locking lug (not shown) which ordinarily is associated with such pull tabs is held firmly against the interlaced locking fingers 28 of the slide fastener so that the latter, considered as a whole, cannot be moved from its locked or closed position. When the handle 44 is moved to itsfully raised position and the keeper flange 62 is swung to an out-of-the-way position so that it no longer overlies the anvil portion 56 of the barrel 40 as, for example, to the position in which it is illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1, the pull tab 34 will be accessible so that it may be raised and thereafter slid longitudinally along the upper edge 18 of the bag 11, thus causing unlacing of the intermeshing locking fingers 28 and consequent separation of the cloth attachment strips 24 and 26 so that access may be had to the interior of the bag.

In the operation of the herein described keeper lock 10 when it is operatively installed on a money bag such as the bag 11, when it is desired to close the bag and prevent access to the interior thereof, the lacing element 30 will be slid to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3, 4, and as far as it is capable of being moved so that all of the locking fingers 28 will become interlaced and so that the lacing element will assume a position in close proximity to the upper end of the lock barrel 44 and overlying the anvil portion 56. It will be assumed, of course, that at this time the keeper lock has been unlocked and that the keeper flange 62 has been swung to an out-of-the-way position, preferably its 180 position as previously described. It will also be understood that at this time the key 126 will be in position within the keyway 112 and that it has been turned so that all of the plate tumblers 124 are in their retracted positions. As soon as the slide fastener has thus been brought to its fully laced condition, the handle 42 is rotated in either direction so as to bring the keeper flange and the anvil portion 56 into vertical radial register, after which the handle 42 will be pushed downwardly so as to cause interlocking of the vertically disposed spline 66 and the spline recess 68 as shown in FIG. 2. During such downward movement of the handle 42, the distal end of the locking bolt 84 will ride on the smooth inside cylindrical surface of the bore 70 in the barrel 40 until it encounters the drop-off which is established by the downwardly facing shoulder 104 (see FIG. 6), whereupon the spring 108 will force the bolt 184 radially outwards so that it underlies such shoulder 104. Also during such downward movement of the handle 42, the cylindrical guide stem 76 will be projected downwardly through the circular opening 74 in the rim flange 72. After the locking bolt 84 has moved below the, level of the downwardly facing shoulder 104, the handle 42 will be released and, as a consequence, the entire handle 44 will move upwardly under the influence of the compression spring 80 until the locking bolt comes to rest on the shoulder 102.

It is to be noted that such downward movement of the handle 42 will bring the keeper flange 62 on the handle and the anvil portion 56 on the barrel 40 into their positions of close proximity for pull tab confining purposes as previously described. It should also be noted that with the handle 42 in its retracted locked position, the spring-biased plate tumblers 124 are projected into the diametrically-disposed tumbler grooves 122 so that the key 126 may be withdrawn upwardly from the key-receiving slot 113 in the cylinder 44. In this regard, it will be observed that at such time as the cylinder 44 is turned within the bore 90 for retraction ofthe locking bolt 84 as previously described, the outer ends of the plate tumblers 124 will ride on the smooth wall of the bore 90 and, thus, become fully retracted so that they functionally register with the bitting on the shank portion 128 of the key 126 and, thus, prevent withdrawal of the key from its keyway 113. The key 126 will thus be captured within the keyway 113 at all times except at such time as the handle 44 is depressed and remains in its locked condition.

As previously stated, the present keeper lock is designed primarily for use in connection with a money bag, such as the bag 11. In such an instance, it is the intent that the bank messenger who is to have custody of the bag shall not be in possession of the key 126, such key being retained solely by an official of the bank. The empty bag is delivered to the messenger in its open condition with the keeper lock 10 assuming the condition in which it is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, but with the key removed. The messenger, upon making his pickup, will receive the bag and its contents from the depositor in a closed and locked condition, locking of the closed and filled bag being accomplished by the bank depositor or customer by the simple expedient of pushing the handle 42 downwardly in the bore at such time as the keeper flange 62 and anvil portion 56 are in register as previously described. As soon as this has been done, the messenger will transport the money bag 11 and its contents to the bank where it will be opened by the bank official utilizing the proper key.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification since various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, whereas the invention has been described herein as being applied to a container in the form of a flexible money bag, the principles of the invention are equally applicable for use with a wide variety of containers which employ slide fasteners for their closure, examples of such containers being duffel bags, traveling cases and other cloth containers too numerous to mention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. ln a flexible container having an elongated access opening extending along at least one edge thereof, a keeper lock comprising an open-ended, tubular lock barrel disposed within the opening adjacent to one end thereof and provided with an axial bore therethrough and also an inwardly extending lower rim flange defining a central opening adjacent to the lower end of said bore, a slide fastener for closing said opening and including a lacing element movable along the opening between an open position wherein it is remote from the barrel and a closed position wherein it is in close proximity to the barrel, said barrel being formed with a radially projecting anvil portion which underlies the rim of the opening and receives the lacing element thereover when the latter is in its closed position, a tubular handle telescopically and rotatably received within said barrel for limited axial sliding movement therein and having a radially extending keeper flange thereon overlying the upper rim of the barrel, said handle being capable of both angular turning and axial shifting movement bodily with the barrel so that it may assume a fully telescoped lower locked position wherein the keeper flange closely overlies the anvil portion for confining the lacing element between it and the anvil portion, and a partially telescoped raised unlocked position wherein the handle is free to rotate in either direction throughout an angle of 360 to thus permit the keeper flange to be swung away from its overlying position with respect to the anvil portion and thus assume an out-oi the-way position so that the lacing element is accessible for manipulation, the lower end of said handle being provided with a reduced cylindrical extension which projects slidably through the central opening in said rim flange, a locking bolt carried by said handle and capable of locking engagement with the barrel when the handle is in its fully telescoped lower locked position to maintain the handle in such position, a lock cylinder rotatable in said handle and movable between locked and unlocked positions, said cylinder, when in its unlocked position, serving to withdraw said bolt from its locking engagement with said barrel, a radial projection on the lower end of said cylindrical extension and designed for engagement with said rim flange to determine the raised unlocked position of the handle, a helical compression spring encircling said reduced cylindrical extension, said spring having its lower end seated on said inwardly extending lower rim flange and having its upper end bearing against a downwardly facing shoulder which is established at the juncture region of said reduced cylindrical extension and the handle, and a key and tumbler mechanism for controlling the operation of said cylinder.

2. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein the axial bore in the lock barrel is recessed to provide a downwardly facing internal shoulder above the level of said inwardly extending rim flange, the locking bolt is radially slidable in the handle between a projected position wherein it underlies said downwardly facing internal shoulder when the handle is in its lower locked position, and a retracted position wherein it is withdrawn from beneath said shoulder, and is spring-biased to its projected position, the lock cylinder is effective in its unlocked position to maintain the locking bolt in its retracted position, and a biasing spring is effective between the barrel and the handle yieldingly to urge the latter upwardly to its raised un' locked position.

3. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein the radial projection on the lower end of said tubular extension is in the form of a snap ring which seats within an annular groove in said cylindrical extension.

4. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, a floating crescent-shaped strip interposed between the outer surface of the lock cylinder and the inner surface of the tubular handle and projecting into registering arcuate grooves which are formed in such inner and outer surfaces.

5. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 4 and wherein said tubular handle is formed with a radial bore therein in register with the arcuate groove in the inner surface of the handle, said radial bore constituting an access opening for displacement of the crescent-shaped strip when a key-releasing tool is projected through said radial bore.

6. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said crescent-shaped key is yieldingly biased radially outwardly of the cylinder by means of a compression spring which is interposed between the crescent-shaped strip and the bottom of the arcuate groove in the outer surface of the lock cylinder. 

1. In a flexible container having an elongated access opening extending along at least one edge thereof, a keeper lock comprising an open-ended, tubular lock barrel disposed within the opening adjacent to one end thereof and provided with an axial bore therethrough and also an iNwardly extending lower rim flange defining a central opening adjacent to the lower end of said bore, a slide fastener for closing said opening and including a lacing element movable along the opening between an open position wherein it is remote from the barrel and a closed position wherein it is in close proximity to the barrel, said barrel being formed with a radially projecting anvil portion which underlies the rim of the opening and receives the lacing element thereover when the latter is in its closed position, a tubular handle telescopically and rotatably received within said barrel for limited axial sliding movement therein and having a radially extending keeper flange thereon overlying the upper rim of the barrel, said handle being capable of both angular turning and axial shifting movement bodily with the barrel so that it may assume a fully telescoped lower locked position wherein the keeper flange closely overlies the anvil portion for confining the lacing element between it and the anvil portion, and a partially telescoped raised unlocked position wherein the handle is free to rotate in either direction throughout an angle of 360* to thus permit the keeper flange to be swung away from its overlying position with respect to the anvil portion and thus assume an out-of-the-way position so that the lacing element is accessible for manipulation, the lower end of said handle being provided with a reduced cylindrical extension which projects slidably through the central opening in said rim flange, a locking bolt carried by said handle and capable of locking engagement with the barrel when the handle is in its fully telescoped lower locked position to maintain the handle in such position, a lock cylinder rotatable in said handle and movable between locked and unlocked positions, said cylinder, when in its unlocked position, serving to withdraw said bolt from its locking engagement with said barrel, a radial projection on the lower end of said cylindrical extension and designed for engagement with said rim flange to determine the raised unlocked position of the handle, a helical compression spring encircling said reduced cylindrical extension, said spring having its lower end seated on said inwardly extending lower rim flange and having its upper end bearing against a downwardly facing shoulder which is established at the juncture region of said reduced cylindrical extension and the handle, and a key and tumbler mechanism for controlling the operation of said cylinder.
 2. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein the axial bore in the lock barrel is recessed to provide a downwardly facing internal shoulder above the level of said inwardly extending rim flange, the locking bolt is radially slidable in the handle between a projected position wherein it underlies said downwardly facing internal shoulder when the handle is in its lower locked position, and a retracted position wherein it is withdrawn from beneath said shoulder, and is spring-biased to its projected position, the lock cylinder is effective in its unlocked position to maintain the locking bolt in its retracted position, and a biasing spring is effective between the barrel and the handle yieldingly to urge the latter upwardly to its raised unlocked position.
 3. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein the radial projection on the lower end of said tubular extension is in the form of a snap ring which seats within an annular groove in said cylindrical extension.
 4. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, a floating crescent-shaped strip interposed between the outer surface of the lock cylinder and the inner surface of the tubular handle and projecting into registering arcuate grooves which are formed in such inner and outer surfaces.
 5. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 4 and wherein said tubular handle is formed with a radial bore therein in registeR with the arcuate groove in the inner surface of the handle, said radial bore constituting an access opening for displacement of the crescent-shaped strip when a key-releasing tool is projected through said radial bore.
 6. In a flexible container, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said crescent-shaped key is yieldingly biased radially outwardly of the cylinder by means of a compression spring which is interposed between the crescent-shaped strip and the bottom of the arcuate groove in the outer surface of the lock cylinder. 